Speed-regulating magnetic clutch.



TATBNTED MAR. 15, 1904.

- 4`C..f \.TRATT.

SPEED BBCULATTNC MAGNETIC CLUTCH.

AQPPLICATICN mm 1320.7. 1903.

No HDBL.'

l l G. A. PRATT. y SPEED RBGULATINQ MAGNETIC CLUTCH.

BATBNTED MAR. 15, 19.04.

APPLICATION FILED DEQ. '1, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N Il ,l UNG@ ANN -TETENTED MAR'. 15, 1904. A.- TRATT. 1

SPEED EEGUEATTNC MAGNETIC CLUTCH,

PPLIGATION FILED-DBO. 7. 1903. Y

s SHEETS-MEET 3.

H0 MODEL.

.Patented March i'a, i904;

,Y v llmTEuSTATEs PATENT-GFFIC- CHARLES AQPRATT, or oAKPARK,.iLL1NoIs. ll., z

1 s1F'ED -REGULAT|NG mAeNETlCcLUi-CH.

SECIFICATION foiming part of Letters Patent No. 754,8G4ffdated March l15, 1,904.

Application filed December 7, 1903. Serial No. 184,188. (No model.) Y

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that CHARLES A. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak park, a suburb of Chicago, in the `countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Speed-Regulating Magnetic Clutch, of which theffollowingis a specification inv its bestform now known to me, refer# ence being had to the accompanyin'gdrawings, in which similar characters indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

My invention relates to devices for regulating and varying thespeedo rotation of a driven shaft with reference to another or driving shaftA connected with a source of power.

The object of my invention is to provide mechanism for varying the speed of the driven be varied.

shaft, said mechanism being one which gives a convenient and iiexible means of varying the speed of said driven shaft, also being one which is neat and compact in form, etlicient in operation, not liable to get ont of order, and easily and cheaply constructed and installed.

My invention consists in two. transmissiondisks mounted so as to rotate independently, wheels or rollers bemg 'placed between the faces of the disks, the shape of the faces-bef.

ing such that by varying the position ofthe wheels or rollers the speed of the rotation of one disk with reference to the other disk may This in combination with magnetic means for holding the disks in Contact with the intermediate wheels or rollers.

My invention also consists in a novel form of wheel or roller for use between the disks, whereby undue friction is avoided and the. efficiency of the mechanism is increased. l -lt also consists in a novel form or' mechanism for varying the position of the wheels orrollers with reference to the disks and in many details of consti-notion which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan, Fig. 2 is an elevation view on line 2 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view online 3 of Fig. 2, of the mechanism embodying my invention in its preferred form. Fig. i is a detail sectional view taken'on line 1 of Fig.

15. Rigidly secured to the tops of these'frames l Rigidly se-' cured to this base by screws 13 or ot-her'suit-- able means are two upright end'fra'mes 14 and` 14 and 15 by screws 16 or other suitable means is a top plate '17. To. the base 12, between the end frames 14 andv 15, I secure by screws 20 or other suitable means an upright support 21,

I terminating'in a preferably enlarged head 22. l

This upright, or at least 'the head 22, is made of brass or'other. material through which'the A magnetic lines of a magnet do not readily pass. Rigidly mounted on one side of this brass head 22 of the upright 21 and in the upright 14 is a shaft 24, andv similarly mounted in said brass head 22 and in the upright'support 15 is another shaft 26, the two shafts bef` ing in lineY with each other, as shown, ande cept for 'the brass head 22 forming a continui` ons shaft. The center line of this shaft is distinguished by and will. be referred toas.

A B. Rotatably mounted upon A the shaft 24, heretofore described, is a-huby 2, having either integral with or rigic'llysecured to it a transmission-disk 28, said disk having its l.

transmission-face 29 cut away in the arc of a. circle, this circular depressionA continuing 'annularly around the face of the disk, as shown.

Geared to this hub 27 by a key 82 `or other suitable method is a pulley Oi gem. 83 or other Similarly mounted A on transmission device. shaft 26 is a hub 31,- bearing a transmission' disk 32, its transmission-face 23 being cutaway in the are of a circle. Y of the' transmission-'faces 29 and 31 are the same for both disks. Similarly secured to hub 31 by a key 84(01' other suitable method) is a gear or pulley or other suitable transmission device. The hub 27, heretofore described, is made ofl such a size and proportion that it serves 'as a core to a magnetcoil 35, which incloses it, as shown, the magnet-coil being mounted on a frame 36, rigidly secured tothe base by screws 37 or other suitable means. Similarly, vthe hub 31 is adapted to act as a core in a-magn'et-coil 39, inclosing it, said magnet-coil being mounted in the The radiiof curvature.

AIO

. 46 they operate to drawthe two transmissiondisks 28 and 32 toward each otherand, against the transmission mechanism, to be hereinafter described, placed between the transmissionaces 29A and 31 yof said disks. vJ-:mrnaled inv the top of frame17 and in the base 12in ayertical line through the center of curvature 49 of the transmissiorfaces 29and 33 on one side of the center line A B of shaft 24 26 'is a vertical shaft 52,v having its middle portion A oiset to form acrank-arm 53. Extending from i zov this crank-arm 53 is a stud 54, on which are journaled two or more transmission-wheels 55 and 56, the same being secured in position by the washer 57 and nut 58. These wheels 55 56 might be made in one piece; but it is a feature of my invention to make them in two or more 'pieces or lamin, so that wtken the opposite sides of said wheels are, as will be hereinafter described, in Contact with different radial portions of transmission-disks there will not be as much friction, due to -thedifference in the relative speed .of rotation of the outer edges of wheels 55 and 56, as there is when, a single wheel is used. In other words, these wheels rotate side by side at very slightly-different rates of speed, but so slightly different that no appreciable friction between the wheels themselves is apparent. These transm1ss1on-wheels55 and 56 are of such a size and radius that, as shown in Fig. 4,

. they fit between the transmission-faces 29 and 33 of the disks 28 and32. Their surfaces, which bearagainst the transmission-diskss are sections of a sphere whose radius is that of lthe transmision-faces ofthe disks, so that the wheels may be moved about between the. transmission-faces 29 and 32, while always remaining in contact'with them in all positions along the entire face of the wheel. The 'proportions of the crank-arm' 53 and the stud are such that the center Vof said wheels 55 and 56 is always at the center of curvature 49 of the transmission-faces 29 and 33 lofthe disks and in line with the centers 47 and 48 'ofthe shaft 52, from which it will be seen that by partially rotar-ing the shaft 52 on its axis the transmission-wheels 55 56 maybe rotated to the dottedline positionof Fig. 4, in which position the periphery portion on one side of wheels 55 56 will be in contacty with transmission-face 29 at a point nearer the center line A B of the shaft about which the transmiion-disks are rotating than is the part of the periphery 61 of the wheels 55 56 iu contact with the transmission-face 33. From this it will be seen that, assuming that the disk '32 is'the drivingdisk, the driyen disk 28 will rotate very much `faster when the parts vare in the dotted-line position of Fig. 4. Continuing the rotation i' of the shaft 52 until the periphery portion 60 is at the inner end 68 of the face v29 of disk 28 andthe periphery portion 61 is in contact with the outeredge 67 of the transmistuate this difference in speed. It\.'ill also be seen that by rotating shaft52 in the opposite direction until the periphery portion 61 is in contact with the inner end of transmissionface 33 of disk 32 and the outer periphery portion 60 is in contact with the ou'te-r end 63 of transmission-face 29 of disk 28 willreverse i the relatlon of these speeds, the driving-disk 32 vrotating at one speed and the ldisk 28 rotating at a very much slower speed, thedriven diameter 63 being greater than the driving diameter 65 taken about centerAB. Mounted on shaft 52 near the upperframe 15 is a pulley While theoretically only one jset of wheels.y 55 and 56 is necessary between the transmission-disks 28 and' 32, in order to balance the mechanical strains and increase the power which can be transmitted andmake the machine symmetrical I mount upon the opposite side of the machine a similar shaft 72,

havingan offset forming a crank-arm 7 3, which i crank-arm has journaled upon it other transmission-wheels 76, having identically the same relative position to the disks 28 and 32 -asthev wheel 55 56, heretofore described, ex-

cept that these -wheels are on theopposite sides of the machine and at the saine distance from the center line A B. Mounted upon this ing between the pulleys, as shown, and oneA end of the'rope being rigidly secured to pulley at 91 and the opposite end being se-V i On one shaftcured to the pulley 70 at 92. as, for instance, shaft 7 2-I mount a coilspring 94, having one end secured at to this shaft 72, and theother end secured by a pin IOS IIO

96l or other suitable mechanism to the frame of the machine. This spring, when freer to act, serves to hold the pulleys 70 and 80 and theV l rope 90 in the position shown in Fig. 1 against a stop 97. On the opposite shaft 52 I mount a ratchet-wheel 100.V To the frame 15 I pivot at 101 a pawl 102, adapted to be held' out of engagement with ratchet wheel 100 by the spring 103. Adjacent to this pawl 102 I place a magnet 104, adapted when energized to draw pawl 102 toward it against the actin of spring 104 is connected by wires 105 and 106 through This magnet 7 ,sion-face 31 of disk will further accenf pening switch 107 releases this magnet-s hold upon the pawl 102 and causes it to be withdrawn from ratchetwheel 100 by spring 103, as heretofore described. Also adjacent to ratchet-wheel 100 I place another mi Tnet 110, having its armature 111 on the end of a lever 112, pivot-ed at 113 and adapted to be normally held away from the magnet by the spring 114. The opposite end of the lever 112 has an elongated slot 115 cut in it, in which a pin 116 on vertical rod 117 is adapted to slide. This vertical rod 117 is slidably mounted in a guide 113, rigidly secured to the` frame by bolts or screws 119. Pivotally Amounted at 120 upoh the end of rod 117 is a pawl-121, adapted when the magnet is energized-and the rod 117 is moved toward'the ratchet\vl1eel to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 100, said pawl being held in such contact by spring 122- and also adapted when rod 117 is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, to entirely clear the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 100. The rod 117 is held inits normalposition by spring 114. The magnet 110, above referred to, is connected by wires 124, vthrough a push-bute ton 125 through switch 10?,.with a source of electrical energy45, heretofore referred to, or to some other source of electrical energy. (Not shown.) Vfhen the push-button125 is closed,

- (the switch 107havingbeen previously closed.)

the current of electricity is sent through magnet 110, which pullsidown armature 111, and therefore moves rod 117,with pawl 121 upon it, into contact with ratchet-wheel 100, and as the motion iscont-inued it rotates ra tchet-wheel 100 against the tension of spring 94 in the direction shown by arrow in Fig. 1 at least the length of one tooth. The switch 107 having been previonsly closed, the pawl 102 clicks over one or more teeth of the ratcl1et-wheel 100 during this semirotation. The linger is now removed from the push button 125, thereby denergizing magnet 110 .and allowing the pawl 121 to return to normal position, tshownin Fig. 1,) the Awheel 100 being held stationary by pawl 102.

The operator again presses push-button 125, which causes pawl 121 to move up and rotate ratchet-wheel100 a distance of at least another toeth, and the pawl 102 again clicks over i rl`he operator now releases one or more teeth. the push-button 125, and the pawl 121 drops back, as heretofore described. Repeating this operation causes' ratchet-wheel 100 to continue this step-by-step rotation in the direction of the arrow in F ig. 1 against spring 94, heretol After passing the full-line position of Figl4 5 the transmission-wheels 55 56 and 75 7 6 willfore described. A This step-hy-step rotation of the ratchet-wheel 100, as will be seen from the description which has been given heretofore, has rotated shaft 7 2 with the parts attached to ley 7 0 and shaft 52, to the parts attached to against the action of spring 94, heretofore described. W'hen no w the operatorwishes to have the parts move in the opposite direction Fig. 1, he keeps his hand ofi from the' push-but ton 125 and opens switch 107,*thcreby'releas wheel 100, in which position the parts are free to return to the normal position under the retracti-le action of spring 94. This spring 94 and the stop 97 should be so located that when both push-button 125 and the switch 107 are open the Wheels 56 and 7 5 7 6 are returned to an extreme position-as. for instance, po

scribed, Fig.` 4.

In the general operation of my invention I provide mechanism of the general form here illustrated. I connectpone gear orpulley, aS

'mission-disk 2 a driving nect gear or pulley 83 with the machinery mission-Wheels 55 56 and 7576hre, as heretofore described, between transmissiondisks 28 and 32 and are in an extreme p sition, as described in the last paragraph, Q that when the machine is operated the .drivendisk 28 will, as heretofore described, rotate slower than the driving-disk 32. I now preferably 56 and 75 76. As soon as thisoperation is completed the motion of the transmission-disk 32 'is communicated, vthrough the transmitlclose the switch 107, thereby energizing magwith ratchet-wheel 100, as heretofore described.V I now repeatedly press the pushshafts 72 and 52. This rotation of the shafts T2 and 52 causes the transmission-Wheels 55 56 and 75 7 6 to be moved step by step from an extreme position,heretofore described, Past the dotted-line position 0I" Fig. 4 to the fullline posit-ion of Fig. 4, at which time the disks 28 and 32 will rotateat the same speed. Continuing this step-by-step motion, they finally to that from which they started and to which the spring 94 would return were it free to act.

l cause the driven disk 28 to rotate faster than i the driving-disk 32. When the desired speed it, including the vpulley S0, and this motion for the driven machinery is reached, I penna A and return to' or toward the position shown in ing pawl 102 from engagement with ratchet-V sitions 67 and 68 or 66 and 65, heretofore de- 85, toasource of power, fthebly makinlg trans-v is Iaso con.y

which is to be driven, thereby making trans-T mission-disk 28 the driven disk.- The transstart the source of power, thereby rotating gear or pulley 85 and driving-disk 32. Inovr.` close switch 46, thereby energizing magnets 35 and 39 and drawing' transmission-disks 28er) and 32 together upon transmitting-wheels.55" ff,

' has been transmitted,through rope 90 and pulit, rotating them in the opposite direction IOO ting-wheels, to transmissionldisk28, .I now button 125, as heretofore described, thereby rotating ratchet-wheel 100, and therefore izo reach the extreme angular Aposition opposite e net A104 and drawing pawl102 into contactIO nently release the push-'button 125, and there-i by hold pawl 102 and the connected mechanism m a stationary position as longasit is desired to operate the drivenmachine 'at the same speed. 1f itis desired toslow down the against any residual magnetism which may exist when switch 107 is opened, or thisseparating of disks 28V and 32 may be accomplihed by reversing the current of one of the cox s.v

2o I do vnot wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact details of construction, which can be varied within reasonable limits without departing fromthe principle of my invention.

` v Having thusdescribed my invention, whatI" claim as new, and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of two transmission-disks mount- 3o ed in substantially parallelplanes, transmitting mechanism adapted to communicate power from one of said disks to the other, magnetic mechanism adapted to move one of said disks toward the other and means adapted to vary the position of said transmitting mechanism with referenceto the disks, whereby the speed of rotation of one of said disks with reference to the other is varied.

2. In mechanism of the class described, the 4o vcornbinationof two transmission-disks mounted in sdbstantially parallel planes,transmitting mechanism adapted to communicate power from one of said disks to the other, magnetic mechanism adapted to move one of said disks' toward the other and means operated by electricity adapi'edto' vary the position of said transmitting mechanism with reference to the disks, whereby the speed of rotation of one of said disks with reference. tothe other is va- 3. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of two transmission-disks mounted face to face in line with each other, transmitting mechanism sinterposed Vbetween the faces of said disks adapted to communicate power from oneof said disks to the other, magnetic means adapted to move one oi' said disks toward the other and mechanism adapted to vary'the position of said transmitting mechanism with reference to the diskstwhereby th-e speedof rotation of one of said disks with referencesto the other is varied.

4. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of two transmission-diskS-mounted face to face in line with each other, transmitting mechanism interposed between the" faces of said dis-ks adapted to communicate power from-one of said disks tothe other, ma netic means adapted to move one of saiddisl toward the other, mechanism operated byelec- 7o; l

tricity adapted to vary the position .of said transmitting .mechanism with reference to the disks, whereby the speed of rotation of one of said disks with reference to the lother isyaried. 75

5. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a shaft, two transmissiondisksmounted face to face upon said shaft, transmitting mechanism adapted to communi--'` cate power from one of said disks to the other` magnet-ic means adapted .to move one of said disks toward the other and devices operated by electricity adapted to vary the position of said transmitting mechanism with reference to the disks whereby the speed of rotation of one of said disks with reference to the other disk is varied.

6. In mechanism lof the class described, the combination oi two transmission-disks mounted face to face, the adjacentfaces of said disks being cut away in the arc of a circle, a transmitting-wheel, adapted to communicatepower from one of said disks to the other, mounted insaid curvedsurfaces between said disks and magnetic means adapted to move one of vsaid disks toward the other of said disks upon said transmitting-wheel, mechanism operated by electricity adapted-to vary the position of said .transmitting-wheel upon the faces of said disks whereby the speed Aof one of. said disks 10 is varied with reference to'the speed of the other disk. v 1

7. In mechanism of the class-described, the

` combination of a shaft, two transmission-disks mounted face to face thereomthe adjacent faces being cut away in thearc of a circle, transmitting mechanism adapted `to communicate power from one of said disks to the other, the same oeing mounted in said curved surfaces between said disks and magnetic means IIC adapted to move one of said'dlsks toward the other of said disks upon said. transmitting mechanism and mechanism operated by electricity vadapted to vary the position of said disks whereby the speed of the rotation of one disk may be varied with reference to the speed of the other of said disks.

8. In mechanism of the class described, the Y combination of ashaft, two transmission-disks mounted thereon with their faces toward each I 29 other, transmitting mechanism adapted to communicate power from one of said disks to the other, interposed between said disks, a magnet inclosing the hub of one o1 said disks connecting through'a switch to a'source of elec- 125 trical energy adapted, when the switch is closed, to move one of said disks toward the other disk upon the transmitting mechanism.

9. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of ashaft, two transmission-disks 13,0

-754,so4 Y i Y, 5

mounted thereon ,with their faces toward each other, transnnttlng mechanism adapted kto communicate potter fro'm one of said disks to ,the other, interposed between said disks, a

magnet inclosing the hub of one of said disks connectingthrough a switch to a source of electrical energy adapted when the switch is closed to move one of said disks toward -the 'other' upon. said ,transmitting mechanism and gears or pulleys upon the hubs of said disks adapted to deliver and receive power through said disks.

10. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a shaft, transmission -disks mounted thereon, a transmitting-wheel iuterposed between Aand in engagementwiths'aid disks, said 'wheel being made np of two or' more lamina: mountedsideby side upon the same shaft said lamina. being capable ot' rcvolving indtmendcntly ach of the other.

11. As an article of manufacture. for use in power transmitting mechanism, where the Speedo? rot-ation of tlic\p0\rer-wlieel communicating with the wheel of this manufacture is diierent at d i fferent sides'or ed ges of the transmission-wileeha transmision-wheel composed of a set of two or more thi'i lamina: placed side by side and' adapted to rotate at relatively different speeds while the entire combined wheel is rotated in the same direction for transmitting power.

' 12, In mechanism of the elassdescribed. the

' combination of a shaft having a section of its 4lemgrth inatle of non-magnetic material, transanism, a ratchet-wheel upon said shaft, a pawlj adjacent to said ratchet-wheel normally held away from it, a magnet adapted when ener-4 gized, to hold said pawl in contactwith said ratchet-wheel, a second pawl mounte'l adjacent to said ratchet-wheel adapted to be moved toward and from said ratchet-wheel 'tacommunicate motion thereto. a second magnet adapted when energized. to more said. second pawl into contact with said ratchet-wheel andv means adapted to withdraw said second pawl from said ratchet-wheel when said second niagv net is deinergized and means adapted, whenv both pawls are released from con tact with said ratchet-wheel to move said ratchetwheel and the. shaftto which the wheel is attached, in the opposite direction.

14. In mechanism of the class described, the. combination of two tran'smission-disks, transmittinfcr mechanism interposed between said ,v disks, a shaft ca rrymg said transmitting meehanism, a rat-ohet-wheclupon said shaft. a paw] adjacent to said ratchet-wheel normally held away from it, a magnet adapted when energized, to hold said pawl in Contact with said ratchet-wheel, a second paw] mounted adjacent to said ratchet-wheel adapted to be moved toward and from said ratchet-wheel 'to conv munieate motion thereto, a second magnet adapt-ed when energized, to more said second pawl int-o cont-act. with said ratchet-wheel, means adapted to withdraw said second pawl from said ratchet-wheel when :mid magnetis denergir/iet' and av spring adapted, when both pa-wls are released from said ratchet-wheel, to more said ratchet-wheel and the sha ft to which it is attached, in the opposite direction from the mot-ion conuuunicatcd by the moving pawl.

15. In mechanism of the class described, the

combination of two trzmsmissiowdisks mount ed face to face, transmittingmechanism, interposed between said disks on opposite sides of the diameter, parallel shafts supporting said transmitting mechanism, a spring adaptf' ed to more. one of said shafts in one direction,

.connecting mechanism so connecting said shafts that said sprintr is also adapted to simult-aneousl)v more the other shaft in the opposite direction, a ratchet-wlng-el mounted upon said second shaft and two electrically -operated pawls detachahly engaging said mtchet-w'nee adapt-ed when energized to more said shafts against. the action of said spring.

CMAS. A. PRATT.

Witnesses:

Dwicnr B. Cnam-nn, l BLANCHE L. Wr. 

